Cheap Eats in Erie Near Gannon and Penn State Behrend

Cheap eats in Erie are plentiful if you know where to look: pizza and wings, diners, delis and ethnic counters that feed students at Gannon University downtown and Penn State Behrend on the city's east side. Think pizza, wings, a lunch special and a booth big enough for the table.

How do you find cheap eats in Erie?

Start where students go. Gannon University sits near downtown, and its neighbors include sandwich shops, pizza counters and cafes. Penn State Behrend, farther east, draws students to the strips along the main roads. Walk a few blocks beyond the obvious and look for lines at noon. Ask a student, because they know which counters are fair. A tip from a classmate is worth more than any sign in a window, and it is free. Keep your own notes too: a quick rating after each meal, with the dish and a line about the price, builds a private guide in a month.

Lunch is cheaper than dinner in the same kitchen, and a weekday special is cheaper again. Look for the handwritten board by the door, which often lists the day's soup, sandwich and plate lunch. Diners and delis have a long tradition of the meal deal, and it is worth asking about even if the menu does not say. Cash is accepted everywhere, and a few small counters prefer it.

What is Erie pizza and wings like?

A staple. Pizza shops and taverns serve slices, whole pies and wings late into the evening, and many offer deals for groups. Wings come with a choice of sauces, from mild to hot, with celery and dressing. Pizza styles vary, from thin to thick, and a few shops make their own sauce. Order a large pie for a table and split the cost.

Erie also has its own take on the hot dog with a spiced meat sauce, which the older Erie guide explains.

Where do Gannon University students eat?

Near downtown, at cafes, delis and counters within walking distance of the campus. Quick sandwiches and bowls are common weekday lunches, and the bars and taverns nearby serve inexpensive dinners. The campus has dining options of its own, so many students eat off campus for company and variety, not for survival.

Parents visiting a student can pick a sit-down place nearby and let the student choose.

Where do Penn State Behrend students eat?

Along the roads near the campus, in a mix of chains and local restaurants, plus pizza shops and delis. A car or a shuttle helps, since the campus is a few miles from downtown. Cheap meals include breakfasts, burritos, burgers and subs. Winter means hearty plates, and summer brings ice cream and lakeside picnics. Students who live in apartments near the campus often walk to a corner store for groceries and cook in groups, trading dishes the way roommates do. A roommate dinner of pasta and salad costs less than a single meal out, and it is how a lot of friendships start. If you are new to the city, ask a classmate where they buy their staples, and you will save a lot over the semester.

How do you stretch a budget in Erie?

Eat lunch out and cook dinner at home. Share large plates. Order water. Look for specials and combination plates. Go early for happy-hour food, where offered, and bring leftovers home. A small city with winter weather rewards soups, stews and pastas, which cost less than steak and feed more people.

If a place seems cheap for what it offers, look at the portion: a plate that is half the size of its neighbor is not a bargain. If it seems cheap and the line is long, you have found a good one. Remember to tip fairly at counters that take tips, because a student server often works there too.

What can a student do on a tight week?

Buy staples and cook: rice, beans, pasta, eggs and frozen vegetables. Treat one meal out as the reward. Use a campus pantry or food assistance if you need one, and do not be shy about it, because many students do. Ask friends to share a pizza, and rotate who hosts a dinner.

How do tags and ratings help?

In the Mosey app, raters add tags when they rate a meal, and diners look for them in the Find sheet. For a student budget the useful ones are Great Value, Good Portions, Quick Service, Late Night and Family Friendly. A tag is a note from someone who ate there and never a promise about price. Rate the dish too, such as the wings or the sub, so the next student knows what to order.

Where next in Erie?

The Erie PA restaurants guide covers the main dining areas, and the winter food guide covers the cold months. For another student town, see the cheap eats near Oregon State University guide, and the US food guides cover the rest of the country.

This is one of many Pennsylvania guides, and the Food in Pennsylvania page lists them all by town.

After your next bargain meal, open the Mosey app, rate it by the dish and share an Erie student list with the roommate who is always asking.